How Chris Fagan’s Relationship‑Focused Coaching Turned the Lions into a Three‑Peat Champion

After ten years in charge, 65‑year‑old Chris Fagan announced he will step down as head coach of the Brisbane Lions, ending a period that transformed the club’s fortunes.

Fagan leaves with a record 148 wins from 243 games, the highest win total for any Lions coach, and he guided the team to three consecutive AFL premierships in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

One of his most striking achievements was turning the Gabba into the “Gabbatoir”. From 2019 to 2023 the Lions won 49 of 53 regular‑season games there and were unbeaten at home in 2023.

Unlike many traditional AFL coaches, Fagan’s philosophy centred on mutual trust, personal relationships and emotional intelligence, rather than old‑school rally‑the‑troops tactics.

His journey began far from Brisbane. He worked as a high‑school teacher in Tasmania and, in 1999, was mentored by former player Neale Daniher when Daniher brought him to Melbourne Football Club.

These relationship‑based methods helped lift the Lions from near‑bottom of the ladder in 2016 to a dominant force, offering a clear example of how empathy and trust can drive sustained success in sport and beyond.

Fagan’s departure shows that a coach who invests in people, not just tactics, can create a lasting winning culture.

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